Key holder



Dec. 29, 1936. G, w LANE 2,065,940

tKEY HOLDER Filed July 31. 19

I vINVENTOR. @e0/19'@ Wawy@ A TT ORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNHTED Application July 3l,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a key case in which keys may be mounted so that each is selectively swingable from the cover for individual use.

An object of the invention is to provide a one-piece post for use in conjunction with the cover of the case and upon which post one or more keys may be pivotally mounted; and this post will have integral therewith a means for securing it in position in this cover and will also secure the case in desired folded position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a one-piece post having heads at its opposite ends integral therewith over which portions of the case may be secured in a buttonhole like manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of receiving openings of such a shape that the head of the post may easily pass therethru, but which will be removable therefrom with great difficulty so as to avoid accidental unioosening or a release of the parts.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of the key case in closed position, formed in accordance with my invention and showing in dotted lines the keys mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover partially unfolded and with the keys swung on their pivotal mounting or post to extend par- L, tially therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover as disposed in a single plane or unfolded, and showing one key as mounted in position therein on one of the posts, while the other post is shown with no key.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the attaching post.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a modified shape of the key case.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a different modification of key case.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a still diiierent modification of the invention. It is desirable from many standpoints to carry keys in some sort of a case so that they may be better accommodated in the pocket or purse in which they are to be carried and so that 1935, Serial No. 33,975

(Cl. 15o-40) the sharp edges of the same will not cut or abrade the surfaces of the pockets in which they are placed. It is also desirable to group together all of the keys so that they may be retained in a package which may be more easily handled.

In key cases of the type which are referred to, it is usual to provide a two-part post or a post with some sort of separate securing means for mounting it in the case or for attaching some part of the case thereto which incurs a substantial expense in the construction ofthe device in many particulars; and in order that a more simplified arrangement may be provided and one in which a single piece post may be used for mounting one or more keys and also for securing the parts in position, Ihave provided a post provided with a shank with enlarged heads at its ends, somewhat of the dumbbell type; and I have so slitted the case that these slits may be passed over the heads and the parts retained in position, the post serving the dual purpose of mounting Athe keys in position in pivotal relation and -also securing the ap in folded position; as desired; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be vaccomplished:-

With reference to the drawing, particularly Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, IB designates generally a casing formed of some pliable material which may be folded, such for instance as leather, altho other suitable materials may be used. This casing is cut out in the shape shown in Fig. 4, and when folded along the dotted lines H and I2 provides three distinct parts, Which, for convenience, I refer to as a body i3 or central part, a primary flap I4 at one side thereof and. a secondary flap l5 at the other side th'ereof. Each of these flaps is slit, as at I6, I1 and i8, at the opposite ends thereof, which slits are made with a chisel or the like. These slits are at right angles to the fold line lines Il or I 2, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

The post member is shown by itself in Fig. 6, consisting of a shank 20, with heads 2| and 22 at its opposite ends, in somewhat of a dumbbell shape. The head 2l is larger than the head 22 and is intended to serve as a permanent anchor for the post in the body. An annular recess or groove 23 is provided just beneath the head 22 so as to enlarge the effective abutment surface of the head 22 so that altho the head 22 is smaller the abutment surface provided beneath f In assembly, I position the post 29 from the outside of the body of the section .I 3, as shown in Fig. 3, thru the slit I5, and when one post is passed thru each slit I6 of the body I3, I may position one or more keys 25 on' each post, as desired. After a suitable number of keys have beenpositioned in this manner, the flap I4 is folded along the line H over the keys andthe ends 22 of the posts are passed thru the slit I'I of the nap I4 where itlodges in the groove 23 and is held in position and also prevents removal of the keys from their posts. In this position, each of the keys may be individually laterally withdrawn from the case something like the blade of a jack knife, see for instance Fig. 2, these keys being swingable about the shank 2G of the postv as a center, to a position entirely withdrawn from the case, if desired.`

The secondary ap I5, or retaining section, of the case may now be folded from its position shown in Fig. 4 along the line I2 and its slits I8 passed over the heads 22 of the posts so that the material around these slits will also lodgev in the groove 23 for retaining this flap in overlying re-'f lation, such as shown in Fig. l, the keys are prevented from sliding from the case laterally in either direction. It is of course, understood that the device will function without this secondary flap, altho it is highly desirable for preventing movement of the keys in one lateral direction. `By this arrangement, the heads of the post with the slits, serve to maintain the partsy in position without further Working and the slits being Vin a direction at right angles to the fold hold `very rmlyv and securely against detachment of the parts when thus secured. In fact, the curved ends: of the head permit their inser" tion easily while the right angular abutment surface beneath the headmakes their extraction from the slits` difficult and thus the device is secure in assembled position.

In some cases, instead of providing the retaining or secondary flap I5 in the shape shown in Fig. 4, I may provide this flap, as shown at 2l,

and mount a known form of snap fastener 28 and socket 29, one on the primary flap I5 and the other on the secondary flap 21 for holding the parts in secured position.

It may be desirable in some instances to provide a single post key case for an assembly of keys, or a single key, rather than a double post mounting, such as above described. In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a modication in which the post 36 secures the body 3I, primaryap 32 and secondary flap 35 all inposition While at the same time serving as a mounting for the key.

, The body and flaps are shaped somewhat after the fashion of a key with an enlarged portion 3l at one end and a narrower portion 38 at the other end. In Fig. 9, instead of securing all of the parts together with a single post such as 30, a snap fastener arrangement 4D, such as previously described in connection with Fig. 7, is utilized for holding the retaining flap against the primary flap.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which. the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

A key case comprising a cove-r formed of exibie material folded to provide overlying portions, and a post member extending between and through said portions with integral heads at its ends on the outer surface of said portions, slits in the portions of said cover through which one of said heads is projectable, said post being grooved beneath the projectable head, and the other of said heads being larger and of suicient size to prevent passage through said slits, said post being of a suflicient length to position the projectable head beyond the outer surface of the 

